Origin & Range: Native of northeastern North America. In recent years the plant appears to have increased in populated places. Found in most of the United States except the Mountain States, Alaska and Hawaii

A large, smooth, branching herb from a large, perennial rootstock, and with green, red, or purple stems; leaves alternate and simple; flowers white, on a long stem, more or less erect; fruit a dark purple berry composed of 5-12 segments fused in a ring, the stem drooping. P. rigida differs by having shorter, erect fruiting stems

Native Americans introduced the first colonists to pokeweed, and they in turn delivered it back to Europe where it became a popular vegetable. In addition to eating the young shoots and leaves, Native Americans and early American settlers made a crimson dye from the berry juice. Native Americans from through-out its range used pokeweed concoctions for a wide variety of internal and external medicinal applications.Historically used for syphilis, diphtheria, conjunctivitis, cancer, adenitis and emesis or as a purgative. Used topically for scabies. Heroic and toxic class herb which requires professional trainingThe fresh and very young spring-time greens of the pokeberry were boiled, drained, and boiled again to make "poke salad" the traditional rural dish in the southern U.S. immortalized in the 1960's hit song "Poke Salad Annie".Only collect young shoots from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. Collect in early spring.White flowers are followed by purple to almost black berries, which are a good food source for songbirds such as Northern Cardinal, Brown Thrasher, and Northern Mockingbird.The berries of the Indian pokeberry have been used for dye production and ink. Poke berries make a beautiful purple dye, however it is short lived and is washed out easily. Will last little more than a month away from sunlight on basketsVery Poisonous – could be fatal due to Phytolaccigine, phytolaccic acid. Phytolaccatoxin and related triterpene saponins, an alkaloid (phytolaccin), and histamines found in the roots and seeds.The symptoms include Gastrointestinal irritation (colic, diarrhea which may be bloody). Rarely: anemia, possibly death. Birth defects and tumors may also be possible